According to Gartner’s “Hype Cycle technology curve, algorithmic aided design within the building design industry—sometimes referred to as AAD—is nearing the “peak of inflated expectations,” where we see in the industry what is known as supplier proliferation. Indeed, quite suddenly in fact, McNeel & Associates has seen a ground swell in competition to their famous Rhino + Grasshopper product combo. An inflection point is coming, due to the rapid rise of something McNeel & Associates has become synonymous for, but so too is change. In this two part series we investigate the factors in this change and learn what may lie ahead.

The Rhino-Grasshopper-ArchiCAD Live Connection enables architects to use all three applications in bi-directions, working to bridge algorithmic design with a leading edge BIM application in ArchiCAD 20. This new connection was beta tested by over 1000 architects around the world. The Live Connection plugins enable Rhino to produce native GDL ArchiCAD elements, while Grasshopper can drive model elements in ArchiCAD algorithmically.